Name: Vinny
StreetPass Hits: 487
Plaza Population: 232
Accomplishments: 42
Favourite Outfit: Isabelle Hat
Forum Name: Vincent
Location in the UK: Manchester

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This interview was first published on StreetPass UK on August 6th 2013

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VL: Hi, the name’s Vincent; I’m a long-time Nintendo fan and a physics graduate. In my spare time I run a Fire Emblem website.

 

SPUK: How/When/Why did you first get into Nintendo?
VL: My memory is rather foggy but, when I was young, many of my relatives owned some kind of Nintendo console. I’m unsure if that was an influence, but one day I got a Game Boy with classic games like Tetris and Super Mario Land as a gift and I got hooked straightaway.

 

SPUK: Sorry, did you say you run a Fire Emblem website? Tell us about that. How did it come about?
VL: Yeah, I mentioned that didn’t I? The site’s called Serenes Forest and, currently, it’s about the largest English fan site dedicated to the Fire Emblem series. I’ve been running the site for more than 8 years now and it’s a pretty fun gig.

It all started way back during the near-simultaneous release of Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. At the time, there weren’t many good guides out there, so I started writing my own to help people playing those games.

Eventually my guides were coming so fast it was just easier to put them on my own site. Truth be told, I’ve always been curious about web design–even before I was online I used to design faux Pokemon site pages for fun. So getting started was fairly easy.

 

SPUK: Let’s focus on the 3DS for a bit… What’s your Favourite 3DS game?
VL: I’m terrible at choosing favourites, but at the moment it’s probably Fire Emblem: Awakening (obvious, right?). Awakening’s a very classy game with a ton of content; it definitely ranks up there as one of the best Fire Emblem games.

SPUK: What do you love about StreetPass?
VL: Every time I get a StreetPass, I’m reminded there are other gamers like myself! That and the StreetPass communities that formed around the feature, where you can actually meet those gamers in the flesh.

 

SPUK: Which game, do you feel, has the most interesting use of StreetPass?
VL: Of the ones I’ve played, Animal Crossing: New Leaf. I really like how you can visit other peoples’ house in the showcase, to get inspiration for your own house as well as order their furniture…

 

SPUK: What 3DS game are you most looking forward to?
VL: To be honest, I’ve been too distracted by Animal Crossing lately to consider what to get next. That said, my mind is switching between Ace Attorney 5 and Bravely Default right now.

 

SPUK: Ok, let’s broaden things. What’s your Favourite Nintendo game of all time?
VL: Now, this *is* a tough question. I’ll go with Xenoblade Chronicles; that game was absolutely fantastic. I still remember the first time I reached Colony 9 and I was like “mummy, w-w-where’s the loading screen between areas?”.

 

SPUK: And your absolute Favourite Nintendo series?
VL: Hmm, if I didn’t say Fire Emblem, it would be pretty weird, wouldn’t it? So I’ll say Fire Emblem.

 

SPUK: What is it about Fire Emblem that you love?
VL: I love how Fire Emblem masterfully blends together the strategy and role-playing genres. Like, when your characters level up, it feels really meaningful, because you know they’re improving as both people and units on the battlefield.

I also love how the series is simple and deep at the same time, if that even makes sense. For instance, once you’ve gotten accustomed, you may find it’s relatively simple to understand the battle outcomes. It’s not like some RPGs where you’re constantly wondering “how much damage will my attack do?”

 

SPUK: And finally, what’s the one game – be it a dream sequel or funky spin off – that you’d sell your left pinky to see Nintendo create?
VL: I doubt I’m alone in thinking this, but I reckon a Fire Emblem action game or traditional RPG would be swell.

Sometimes when I’m playing Fire Emblem: Awakening, I pause the battles to admire the scenery and think how it’s a shame you can’t wander around and explore. Given the chance, I’d love to just stroll around some of the Fire Emblem villages, castles, ruins and whatnot.

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